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Man arrested for making threat with gun at Mitchell business

An Ethan man was arrested Thursday morning after reportedly threatening a woman with a handgun in Mitchell.

Lance Bruske, 21, was arrested after an employee at a business in the 800 block of West Havens Avenue called the Mitchell Department of Public Safety at 10:54 a.m. and said that a man was in the parking lot with a gun and he made a comment about entering the business.

The caller said the man wanted to talk to a woman, also employed at the business, and the man made the threat after other employees kept her from going outside to talk to him.

Several officers arrived at the scene and found Bruske in the business’ parking lot. He was held at gunpoint and taken into custody without shots being fired. A 9mm handgun was found in Bruske’s vehicle, authorities said.

No one was hurt throughout the incident or during the arrest.

Lt. Det. Don Everson of the Mitchell Police Division said everything went as well as it could have.

“We’re glad it ended up this way,” Everson told The Daily Republic on Friday.

According to Everson, Bruske was charged with stalking, rather than aggravated assault, because though he reportedly made a verbal threat, he never made a physical threat that would meet the criteria for a more serious charge. He was also charged with placing a threatening phone call. Both of Bruske’s charges are Class 1 misdemeanors.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol assisted with the investigation and the 800 block of West Havens Avenue was temporarily closed to traffic Thursday for safety concerns.